Applicator for polishing and buffing compositions



.J. v. DAVIS 2,332,992

APPLICATOR FOR POLISHING AND BUFFING COMPOSITIONS Oct. 26, 1943.

Filed March 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. c/o/r/v M O/M/j 6 TIDE/V03 I Oct. 26, 1943. J. v. DAVIS 2,332,992

APPLICATOR FOR POLISHING AND BUFFING COMPOSITIONS Filed March 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 26, 1943 APPLICATOR FOR POLISHING AND I I BUFFIN G COMPOSITIONS John V. Davis, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Udylite Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation oi Delaware Application March a, 1941, Serial No. 381,557

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an applicator for polishing and bufflng compositions.

It is common practice in polishing and bufiing to apply to the Wheel a lubricating and/or abrasive composition to assist in the bufling or polishing. This composition usually come in paste or cake form. The paste is daubed on the part to be finished whereas the cake is applied to the wheel manually or by a cake applicator in an automatic finishing machine. Both of the above arrangements for applying composition to the bufling or polishing wheel ar inefiicient and wasteful or the composition.

In an automatic polishing and buffing machine the plicator must be fastened to the arm which supports the wheel. This arm is usually spring floated. The weight of the cake applicator reduces the sensitivity of the floating wheel support arm. The cake applicator also interferes with the ventilating hood over the wheel.

Another difiiculty with the above methods of applying the composition is that the angle at which the composition is applied and the places to which it may be applied are limited.

It is an object of this invention to obviate the above defects and produce a composition applicator which will shoot the composition at any point desired and with sufiicient forc or impact to penetrate the air blast near the wheel.

The invention contemplates an applicator which is automatic in operation and applies a metered amount of composition at regularly timed intervals to the wheel at any point desired. Ordinarily best results are obtained when the composition is applied to the wheel near the point of contact with the work.

The applicator is eflicient in operation, requires attention only at relatively long intervals of time and applies the composition at whatever time interval the work requires.

Another advantage of the instant applicator is that it can be mounted upon a fixed part of the finishing machine and does not interfere with either the hood or the floating arm arrangement for the wheel.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the composition applicator mounted on an automatic bufiing and polishing machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the composition applicator.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the applicator looking at the nozzle.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of nozzle.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of this modified form of nozzle.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a second modified form of nozzle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown a finishing wheel such as bufling wheel I rotatably supported on the pivoted arm 2 provided with a ventilating hood 3. The direction of rotation of the bud is indicated by the arrow. The work, which may be a metal part, is. referenced 4. The work 4 is mounted on a support 5 on conveyor chain 6 and travels in the direction of the arrow.

The applicator comprises a housing I fixed on a pin 8. IPln 8 is journalled in a support member 9 whereby the housing 1 and pin 8 can be rotated about a vertical axis on member 9 and held in any position of adjustment by the set screw l0. Member 9 is pivoted to swing on support member I I about a horizontal axis by means of pin I2. Support II is bolted or otherwise afllxed to the stationary frame 13 which may be attached to the buffing machine as shown in Fig. 1-, or may be mounted on a separate stand. Thus, the housing I and the applicator are universally adjustable.

The composition, which takes the form of a liquid-or paste, is carried in reservoir l4 under pressure. The composition is forced under pressure from the reservoir I4, through hose or flexible pipe line I5 to the applicator. The pressure in reservoir 14. can be varied appreciably. Ten pound per square inch has been found to be a *suitable pressure.

Hose I5 is connected as at 1'6 to the head l1. Head I] is provided with a chamber l8. The composition passes from hose I5, through orifice l9 into chamber 18. Orifice l 9 may, if desired, be controlled by check valve 20 backed up by spring 2|. Spring 2| acts against ball check valve 20 which tends to keep orific I9 closed. However, spring 2! is purposely made weak enough so that ball 20 will not close orifice l9 against the fiow of composition from hose l5. Between operations chamber I8 is always filled with buff composition under the same pressure as the composition in hose I5.

One end of chamber l8 takes the form of a flexible diaphragm 22. The flexible diaphragm 22 can be made from any suitable material. As shown, diaphragm 22 comprises a plurality of layers of rubber 23. Diaphragm 22 is clamped about its periphery between head l1 and housing I. A plunger 24 is-slidably mounted in bushing 25, fixed in the housing 1-. The large end of plunger 24 normally rests against flexible diaphragm 22.

A nozzle 30 is fixed to the end of head I'I. Nozzle 30 is provided with an outlet orifice 3| which is continuously in communication with chamber i8. Outlet 3| is controlled by a pair of valves 32. Valves 32 preferably take the form of elongated flat strips of resilient material, such as spring steel, secured to the nozzle 30 by screws 33. The outer free ends of the valves 32 come together or close as at 34. The valves 32 are backed up by coil springs 35, the tension of which can be adjusted by set screws 36 carried on brackets 31.

It is essential to efficient operation that all the composition ejected from the nozzle 3| should strik against and be forced into the surface of the buff I. If the composition'drips from the nozzle 30, this would cause undesirable waste. To achieve this end, namely, that all the composition ejected from the nozzle should reach the buff, it is essential that the composition be ejected from chamber l8, through the nozzle with considerable force or impact. In other words, plunger 24 must be struck a strong, instantaneous or shar blow. Any source of power may be used for striking plunger H a sharp or instantaneous blow which willcause but an instantaneous deflection of diaphragm 22.

By way of description rather than for purposes of limitation, th source of power for striking plunger 24 is shown as a solenoid 40 provided with a plunger 4|. A spiral compression spring 42 is mounted between the end of the plunger 4| and wall 43 in housing 1. Solenoid 40 is connected by wires 44 and 45 with any suitable source of electricity. A switch in the form of a pivoted contact arm 41, backed up by a spring 46, is mounted in the electrical circuit in line 44. Switch arm 41 is provided with upstanding lug 48 which may be arranged to contact with suitably spaced cam lugs 49 on endless conveyor chain 6 or with any conventional timing device. As the conveyor chain travels in the direction of the arrow, lugs 49 consecutively strike lug 48 on switch arm 41 to momentarily close switch 41 and complete the circuit through solenoid 40.

Momentary energization of. solenoid 40 causes the plunger 4| to move rapidly toward theleft against compression spring 42. As the plunger 4| reaches the end of itsleftward stroke it strikes plunger 24 an instantaneous but powerful blow. This flexes or deflects diaphragm 22 which, bearing in mind that chamber 8 is filled with the buff composition, causes a slug of the composition to be shot out of orifice 3| onto the wheel I or on to the work 4 in whatever place desired.

The momentary pressure of the composition'in chamber l8, due to the deflection of diaphragm 22, acts against the ends of valves 32 to spring them back about screws 33 and against the compression springs 35. Valve at this time acts to close orifice I 9 and prevent the composition from being forced out of chamber it back into machine. Spring valves 32 close the instant pressure is released in chamber l8 and thereb prevent any dripping of the composition from the nozzle.

The pressure in the chamber l8 before the blow is struck by plunger 4|- against plunger 24 and diaphragm 22, the force of this blow, and the tension of the spring valves 32, are all factors effecting the velocity of the composition discharged from th nozzle. These factors must be correlated so that the velocity of the slug of com-- position discharged through the orifice is great enough to carry the composition through the air blast surrounding the boiling wheel.

The amount of composition applied per stroke can be made more or less by increasing or decreasing, respectively, the length of the stroke of plunger 24; in other words, by increasing or decreasing the amount that the diaphragm is flexed by each stroke of plungers 24 and 4|. The strokes per minute of the applicator can also be varied to suit thejob by proper spacing of the cam lugs 49 when used along the chain 6 and correlating the spacing of these lugs with the speed of thechain.

It will be seen that as the plunger 4| moves leftward on its power stroke, spring 42 is placed under compression. After the plunger 4| has expended its energy by striking plunger 24, spring 42 recoils and instantaneously moves plunger 4| to the right on its return stroke: This arrangement nicely provides for an instantaneous blow against plunger 24 which is highly desirable. It can be readily seen that if continuous pressure were applied to plunger 24, diaphragm 22 would be flexed, the composition would be ejected from chamber it through nozzle 3| with little or no force and simply drip from the nozzle.

In the modified form of nozzle shown in Fig. 4, the outlet passageway 60 extends at an acute angle to chamber l8 and is controlled by a single valve 6| of strip spring metal. Valve BI is secured to the nozzle by screw 62 and backed up by Valve 5i yields to the pressure of the buff composition to permit ejection of the composition by diaphragm 22. Valve 6| closes outlet 60 against the normal pressure in chamber |8 which is substantially the same as the pressure in flexible metal hose i5.

In Fi 6 a second modified form of nozzle is shown. In this form the nozzle 65 is provided with a composition outlet 66 which communi-. cates with chamber |8 through oriflce 61. Orifice 61 is controlled by a check valve 68 backed up by coil spring 69. Check valve 68 closes orifice 61 against the normal pressure in chamber l8 but opens under increased pressure whenever diaphragm 22. is deflected by plunger 24. Orifice 6B is preferably countersunk as at 10 to form a type of venturi opening thereby reducing the drip. In this form of the invention the nozzle 65 between outlet 66 and valve 68 is always loaded with composition.

It will be noted that in the above invention the solenoid plunger 4| builds up considerable momentum before striking the diaphragm plunger 24. This energy is dissipated instantly. It should also be noted that the polishing composition is forced into chamber l8 by the pressure existing in reservoir 4 and hose IS. The pressure existing in chamber 8 will assist or return the diaphragm 22 to its initial position.

It should be noted that on the power stroke of plunger 4| that wall 43 acts as a stop against which the plunger 4| may abut to arrest the power stroke of the same preparatory to the recoil of spring 42 and return stroke of the plunger 4|.

I claim:

1. An applicator for dispensing pasty or semiliquid material comprising in combination a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm for said chamber, a source of the material to be dispensed connected to said chamber whereby'said material is present in said chamber and in contact with said diaphragm, a check 'liquid material comprising in combination a valv between said chamber and said source of" material arranged to prevent the'flow of said material from said chamber to said source, an outlet forsaid chamber, and impact means for striking said diaphragm whereby said diaphragm directly displaces the material in contact therewith and some of the material within the chamber is ejected through said outlet.

2. An applicator for dispensing pasty or semie liquid material comprising in combination a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible dia-" phragm for said chamber, a source of the material to be dispensed connected .to said chamber, an outlet for said chamber, impact means for striking said diaphragm whereby some of the material within the chamber is ejected through said outlet, and a valve normally closing said outlet but opening in response to the pressure applied to the 0 material in said chamber by said impact means.

3. An applicator fordispensing pasty or semiliquid material comprising in combination a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm for said chamber, a source, of the material to be dispensed connected to said chamber,

an outlet for said chamber, a plunger normally in contact with said diaphragm, a stop adjacent said plunger, said plunger projecting beyond said stop, a power plunger spaced from said first mentioned plunger, means for throwing said power plunger against the first mentioned plunger to momentarily flex said diaphragm, said power plunger abutting said stop toarrest the power stroke or the same, and means for return the power plunger to its initial position immediately upon flexing the said diaphragm.

6. An applicator ior dispensing pasty or semiliquid material comprising in combination a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible dia-' phragm for said chamber, a source of the mathrow said power plunger against the first menhousing having a chambertherein, a flexible diaphragm for said chamber, a source for the material to be dispensed under pressure connected to said chamber whereby said chamber is always filled with said material, an outlet for said chamber, impact means for momentarily dissipating its energy against the diaphragm to flex the same inwardly of the chamber, a valve normally closing said outlet and opening momentarily in response to saidimpact means whereby a portion of the material within the chamber is shot through said outlet. 4

4. An applicator for dispensing pasty or semiliquid material comprising in combination a housing having a chamber therein, a displaceable wall for said chamber, a sourceof the material to be dispensed connected to said chamber whereby said chamber is always filled with said material, a check valve between said chamber and said source of material arranged to prevent the flow of said material from said chamber to said source,

an outlet for said chamber, and impact means for striking said displaceable wall to displace the same momentarily whereby said wall directly displaces said material and some or the material within the chamber is ejected through said outlet.

.5. An applicator for dispensing pasty or semitioned plunger to momentarily flex said diaphragm, said, power plunger abutting said stop to arrest the power stroke of he same, and 'a' spring for returning the power p unger to its initial position immediately upon flexing the said.

diaphragm.

7. An applicator for dispensing pasty or semiliquid material comprising in combination a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm for said chamber, a source of the material to be dispensed connectedto said chamber.

an outlet for said chamber, impact means for a striking said diaphragm whereby some of the material within the chamberis ejected through said outlet, a valve in the form of a flat strip or spring material for normally closing said outlet but opening in response to the pressure applied to the material in said chamber by said impact means.

8. An applicator for dispensing p ty .or semiliquid material comprising in combination a housing having a chamber therein, a flexible diaphragm for said chamber, a source ,of the material to be dispensed connected to said chamber, 

